Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2022 33 Players Signed: 27 Players Available In 2022: 24 (DE Devin Aupiu transferred to UCLA, S Khari Gee transferred to Georgia Tech and CB JoJo Johnson entered the transfer portal) 2021 Recruiting Rankings: No. 9 by Rivals and 247Sports, and No. 11 by ESPN Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Joe Alt OT 6-7 5 ⁄8 305 Started the last eight games of 2021 at left tackle and is locked in as a first- teamer. Devin Aupiu DE 6-5 220 Early enrollee and California native transferred to UCLA after the spring 2021 semester. Ryan Barnes CB 6-1 7 ⁄8 187 Played three defensive snaps while redshirting in 2021 and has emerged as likely rotation player this spring. Cane Berrong TE 6-3½ 235 Played three games before suffering an ACL tear in October; did not practice this spring. Josh Bryan K 5-11 5 ⁄8 183 Played one game last season and is competing for the starting kicker job with graduate transfer Blake Grupe. Tyler Buchner QB 6-1 215 The favorite to start at quarterback after playing in 10 games (163 snaps) as a freshman. Deion Colzie WR 6-4¾ 207 Caught 4 passes for 67 yards in 11 games last fall, competing for the starting boundary receiver job. Pat Coogan OL 6-5 1 ⁄8 305 Did not appear in a game last season and missed the spring due to a menis- cus tear. Will compete for a backup interior line job when healthy. Logan Diggs RB 6-0 206 Played eight games and rushed for 239 yards as a freshman and is vying for the lead back job with junior Chris Tyree. Audric Estime RB 5-11½ 228 Played 12 games, mostly on special teams, and had seven carries for 60 yards. Competing for a role in 2022. Mitchell Evans TE 6-5 1 ⁄8 250 Was the No. 3 tight end as a freshman, logging 113 snaps and two catches in 13 games. Competing with junior Kevin Bauman for the No. 2 job. Blake Fisher OT 6-6 335 Highest-rated recruit in the class, was named the opening day left tackle but tore his meniscus in the first half of the opener, sidelining him until the Fiesta Bowl. Returned for the bowl and started at right tackle, where he remained this spring. Khari Gee S 6-2 195 Atlanta native transferred to Georgia Tech in January after playing zero games last fall. Caleb Johnson OT 6-5 5 ⁄8 287 Did not play last season and is competing for a backup tackle job. JoJo Johnson CB 5-11 191 Missed the season due to injury and entered the transfer portal in January. Kahanu Kia LB 6-1 217 Played in eight games, mostly on special teams, and made seven tackles. Departed for a two-year Mormon mission and will return in 2024. Prince Kollie LB 6-0½ 222 Made 14 tackles in 10 games, mostly on special teams. In the mix for a rota- tional role at will linebacker. Jason Onye DT 6-5 289 Did not play in 2021, competing for backup interior line job this season. Ron Powlus III QB 6-2 5 ⁄8 225 Did not play as a freshman and was the No. 4 quarterback in spring practice. Philip Riley CB 5-11½ 202 Appeared in four games, mostly on special teams, and preserved a redshirt. Mainly worked at nickel back behind graduate student TaRiq Bracy during spring practice. Gabriel Rubio DT 6-5¼ 290 Former top-125 recruit preserved his redshirt by playing only in the Fiesta Bowl. Saw action as the No. 2 nose tackle this spring, but will compete with Harvard graduate transfer Chris Smith for snaps in fall camp. Will Schweitzer LB 6-4 225 Played in three games and redshirted last season. Moved to rover from de- fensive end during the spring. Rocco Spindler OG 6-5 300 Former top-100 recruit appeared in two games last fall. Saw some first-team work at guard during spring practice and is trying to push his way into the lineup. Lorenzo Styles WR 6-1 195 Ended the season as a starter and had 136 yards receiving in the Fiesta Bowl. Has the look of a potential No. 1 wide receiver and could seize that oppor- tunity this season. Jayden Thomas WR 6-1½ 215 Played 14 snaps last season while redshirting and saw plenty of action in a thin receiver room this spring. Worked mainly with the second-team offense during the spring and plays all three positions. Chance Tucker CB 5-11¾ 183 Did not play last season and is competing for a rotational cornerback role this year. Justin Walters S 6-0 5 ⁄8 188 Played four games in 2021, all on special teams, and redshirted. The glut of upperclassmen at safety means he's likely a year away from cracking the rotation. Sophomore Class Review Ryan Barnes stood out among Notre Dame's five underclassmen corner- backs during spring practice. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER